The criteria specifically rule out Conduct disorders.[3] Dissocial personality disorder criteria differ from those for antisocial and sociopathic personality disorders.[4]

Confusion in terminology

Although conceptually the antisocial, dissocial, and sociopathic personality disorders are synonymous with psychopathy, operationally the diagnostic criteria for these disorders are definitely distinct.[2] They are not equivalent disorders. The largest difference is the emphasis on delinquent and crime|criminal behaviors found in the DSM-IV-TR's version, the antisocial personality disorder. The dissocial personality disorder pays more attention to the affective, interpersonal and behavioral components not present in DSM-IV-R's criteria.[1]

The criteria for antisocial personality disorder are largely based on observable behaviors while the ICD criteria for dissocial personality disorder focus more on the affective and interpersonal deficits. However, the ICD criteria do not represent the broad personality and behavioral factors of psychopathy.[2]

The blurring of distinctions between these diagnostic categories and psychopathy have caused diagnosis confusion. For the mental health and criminal justice system the distinction between psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder is of considerable importance.[5] Further, the term "psychopathic" is no longer used in United Kingdom as it is seen as having pejorative connotations.[6]

Research findings

Much research into psychopathy, as operationalized by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R), has been conducted. The checklist assesses both interpersonal and affective components as well as lifestyle and antisocial deficits. However, the research results cannot be easily extrapolated to the clinical diagnoses of dissocial personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder. A sample research finding is that between 50% and 80% of prisoners in England and Wales meet the diagnostic criteria of dissocial personality disorder, but only 15% would be predicted to be psychopathic as measured by the PCL-R. Therefore, the findings drawn from psychopathy research have not yet been shown to be relevant as an aid to the diagnosis and treatment of dissocial or antisocial personality disorders.[2]

Attempts to correlate dissocial personality disorder have had methodology|methodological problems. Although a high percentage of prisoners in England and Wales were shown in one survey to fulfill the criteria for a dissocial personality, since the diagnosis of dissocial personality includes a disregard for social rules and norms, it is not surprising that the same individuals commit crimes.[7]

Research has been done attempting to assess the co-morbidity of dissocial personality disorder with other conditions. However, the few studies that have been done use too many different methodology|methodologies to enable forming solid conclusions, although it seems that there is a low prevalence of antisocial personality disorder/dissocial personality disorder in psychiatric hospitals.[8]

Treatment

In practice, mental health professionals rarely treat dissocial personality disorders as they are considered untreatable and no interventions have proven to be effective. In England and Wales the diagnosis is grounds for Detention (imprisonment)|detention in secure psychiatric hospitals under the Mental Health Act if individuals with that diagnosis have committed serious crimes, but since such individuals are disruptive for other patients and not responsive to treatment this alternative to prison is not often used.[9]